How do traits get passed from one generation to the next?

Traits are passed from one generation to the next primarily through genetic inheritance, which involves the transmission of genetic information from parents to offspring. This process is governed by the mechanisms of heredity, where DNA, the genetic material, contains the instructions for the development and function of living organisms.

During reproduction, genes—segments of DNA—are inherited from both the mother and the father, leading to the offspring receiving a combination of traits from each parent. This genetic code determines various characteristics such as eye color, height, and even susceptibility to certain diseases.

Genetic inheritance follows specific patterns, such as Mendelian inheritance, where dominant and recessive traits interact, and can include more complex patterns such as polygenic inheritance, where multiple genes influence a single trait. Environmental factors may influence the expression of these traits, but the genetic basis is essential for passing traits from one generation to another.